Tube frame for tufted-pile-fabric looms



E. F. CLARK TUBE FRAME FOR TUFTED PILE FABRIC LOOIS Filed July 9, 1925'INVENTOR: EzqgencFUlarl6 4 ORNE Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES PA'IIENT OFFICE.

EUGENE F. CLARK, OF LEAKSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOB TO MARSHALLFIELD MILLS CORPORATION, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

TUBE FRAME FOR TUFTED-PILE-FABRIC LOOKS.

Application filed July 9,

guiding devices, such lengths being then out from the strands to formthe pile tufts.

The present invention aims to improve the yarn guiding devices byproviding a novel, simple and efficient construction thereof whereby theyarn strands are guided and held in proper spaced relation to be graspedby the grippers of the loom, and whereby the yarn strands may be quicklyand easily inserted into the guiding devices both when the yarn frame ison .the loom, as occasion may require, and also during the pre arationof the yarn frame forthe loom w en the {Zarnstrands are wound upon the sools or obbins and the free ends thereof Inserted 80 into the guidingdevices. The invention thus obviates the use of temporary ides orholding devices and special threa ing ma chines and-permits theindividual strands to be inserted into the guiding devices as they aresuccessively selected in accordance wit a particular attern, during thepreparation of the yarn 'ame for the loom.

The invention consists of the elements and the combinations of themhereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,- illustratingthe invention,

Figure 1 is a front view of a tuft yarn frame partly broken away andprovided with tuft yarn holding an'd'guiding devices embodying myinvention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section thereof, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

. Figure'3 is a section through the yarn holding and guiding devices, online of- Fig. 2

' Referring to the drawings, {designates- 1925. Serial No. 42,393.

the frame, and 5 bracketssecured to and extending from the respectiveends of the bar 4. The brackets 5 are of usual construction and theyprovide bearings for the trunnions 6 of thespool or bobbin 7 whichextends parallel to the bar 4 and which carries the tuft yarnstrands 8in the usual manner.

The frame .bar 4 is provided with a stri of th n angle metal 9, such astin, which 1s fitted against the front and bottom surfaces of the barand which extends longitudinally of and is secured to the bar by meansof screws 01' nails 10.

The strip of angle metal 9 carries arow of spaced walls 11 which aresoldered or otherwise suitably securedthereto and which projectforwardly from the bar 4 and also downwardly therefrom and back beneaththe same, as clearly shown in the drawlngs. These walls ,11 form yarnstrand passages 12 between them for theyarn strands 8 which are drawnfrom the spool 7 down -through the passages.

The spaces between theupper end portions of thewalls 11 form entranceopeningsfor threading the strands downwardly and longitudinally throughthe passages, as is necessary in prior constructions wherein the pasnosages are closed at the front thereof or are substantially tubular inform. Inother words, the passages 12 are closed only at the back andsides, leaving the fronts thereof entirely open for the easy threadingof the yarn strands into the sameby moving the strands laterally. asdistinguished from longitudinally, as heretofore, nto the passages.Embracing the upperend portions of'thewalls 12 are the central portionsof flat" springs 13, the end portions ofwhich extend downwardly into thepassages 12 and form a pair of fiat spring arms, 14 and 15 1n eachpassage. The, upper end portion of each spring arm 14 and 15 is indentedinto an opening in the adjacent wall 11 to hold the arm in place withinits passage 12. The spring arms 14 and 15 of each pair convergedownwardly from the entrance opening of its passage 12, and the lower orfree end portions of the arms meet and lie flat against each othercentrally of the ends and sides of their passage 12.

The spring arm 14 of each pair is indented at the surface thereof whichis in contact with its companion spring arm 15. forming an opening,cavity or indentation 16 therein and forming a projection 17 at theopposite surface thereof; and the said companion spring arm 15 of eachpair is indented to form a projection 18 which extends into theindentation or opening 17 in the adjacent arm 14.

The free end portion of each pair of spring arms 14 and 15 which arenormally in contact with each other may be separated or moved apartwithin its passage 12 to receive a yarn strand between them, and, topermit a relatively wide range of opening between the arms of each pairwithin the narrow limits of the passage containing them to accommodatethe yarn strands 8. I provide each wall 11 with a. hole or opening 19 toreceive the projection 17 of the adjacent spring arm 14 when it isseparated from its companion arm 15.

The yarn strands 8 are drawn by the yarn grippers -of the loom downthrough the passages 12 between the pairs of spring arms 14 and 15therein and between the projections 18 on the arms 15, which are locatedin the forward portions of the passages 12, and ribs 20 which arelocated in the rearward portions of the passages 12 and which are formedon the metal strip 9 and extend longit ndinally thereof throughout thelength of the row of walls 11.

The ribs 20 serve to provide small area contact surfaces between therear walls of the pas ages 12 and the yarn strands 8 passingtherethrough; and the projections 18 on the arms 15 serve as barriers toprevent the yarn strands 8 from accidentally leaving the passages 12through the front openings thereof.

The springs arms 14 and 15 of each pairare widened, as illustrated, tocontract the exit openings of the passages 12 so that they shall benarrower than the portions of the passages containing the spring arms 14and 15, thus providing exit openings of sufiicient narrowness to retainthe strands 8 in roper position to be grasped by the loom grippers, andproviding the required room within the passages to accommodate thespring arms.

.The lower end portions of each pair of spring arms 14 and 15 are flaredor extended outwardly, which, with the converging upper portions of thearms of each pair, permits the arn strands to be easily passed betweentie arms of each pair when the strands are threaded into the passages 12through the front openings thereof; and, when the strands 8 are thusthreaded into the passages and between the spring arms 14 and 15, thesmooth inclined sides of the projections 18 permit the pressure of theyarn against 'the same, during the threading operation, to separate thespring arms 14 and 15 sufiiciently to move the yarn back into positionback of the projections 18, after which the spring arms 14 and 15 springback against the strands 8 and hold them in place by the pressureexerted against them.

\Vhen the device is used in a loom, the yarn carrier is periodicallypresented to the yarn grippers which, at each presentation, grasp thefree end portions of the yarn strands 8 and draw the strands downthrough the passage 12 and between the spring arms 14 and 15 untillengths of the strands corresponding to the lengths of the tufts to beinserted into the pile fabric have been drawn below the passages 12 orwalls 11, whereupon the said lengths are cut from the strands beneathand close to the bottom of the walls 11. Each time the yarn strands arethus drawn down through the passages 12, the spring arms exertsufficient friction upon the strands for the production of the desiredtension of the strands, and, thereafter, the spring arms hold the freeend portions of the strands in place for a succeeding drawing andcutting operation.

I claim as my invention:-

1. In a tuft yarn frame a body bar, a row of spaced walls projectingtherefrom and forming yarn strand passages between them, each passagehaving an entrance opening and an exit opening connected by a frontopening through which a yarn strand ma be threaded, and a yieldingbarrier in eaci passage permitting a yarn strand to be threaded into thesame through its front opening and preventing a yarn strand fromaccidentally leaving the passage through its front opening.

2. In a tuft yarn frame a body bar, a row of spaced walls projectingtherefrom and forming yarn strand passages between them, each passagehaving an entrance opening masses and an exit opening connected by afront opening through which a yarn strand may be threaded, and springsembracing said walls at the inletopenings of said passages andextendinginto said passages and adapted to frictionally engage yarn strzfndspassing therethrough.

.4. In a tuft yarn frame a body bar, a row' 'of spaced walls projectingtherefrom and forming yarn strand passages between them,

and an exit opening connected by a front opening through which a yarnstrand may be threaded, and springs embracing said walls at the inletopenings of said passages and having free end portions extending "intosaid passages and terminating in spaced relation to the outlet openingsthereof and adapted to frictionally engage yarn'strands passing throughthe passages.

5. In a tuft yarn frame a body'bar, a row of spaced walls projectingtherefrom and forming yarn strand passages between them, each passagehaving an entrance opening and an exit opening connected by a frontopening through which a yarn strand may.

be threaded, and springs within said passages and adapted tofrictionally engage walls at the inlet openings of said yarn strandspassing therethrough, said springs having laterally extending portionsforming barriers permitting yarn strands to be threaded into saidpassages through the front. openings thereof and preventing yarn strandsfrom accidentally leaving said passages through the 'front openingsthereof.

6. In a tuft arn frame a body bar, a row of spaced .wal s projectingtherefrom and forming yarn strand passages between them,

each passage having an entrance opening and an exit opening connected bya front opening through which a yarn strandmay be threaded, and springsembracing said and extending into said passages and adapt ed tofrictionally engage yarn strands passng therethrough, said springshaving laterally extending portions forming barriers permitting yarnstrands to be threaded into said passa es through the front 0 eningsthereof and preventing yarn stran sfrom accidentally leaving saidassages through the front-openings, thereo 1 7., Ina tuft yarnframe abody bar, a row of spaced Walls projecting therefrom and forming yarnstrand passages between them, each passage having an entrance openingass'ages and an exit opening connected by a front opening through whicha yarn strand may be threaded, and springs embracing said Walls at theinlet openings of said passages and having free end portions extendingintobarriers permitting yarn strands ,to bethreaded into said passagesthrough the front openings thereof and preventing yarn strands fromaccidentally leaving said passages-through the front openings thereof.

8. 'In a tuft yarn frame a bod) bar, a row of spaced walls projectingtherefrom and forming yarn strand passages between them,

each passage having an entrance opening each passage having an entranceopeningand an exit opening connected by a front opening through which ayarnstrand may be threaded, and a pair offlat spring arms within each ofsaid passages, the arms of each pair being adapted to receive-a yarn,

strand between them and to frictionally engage the same.

9. In a tuft yarn frame a body bar, a row of spaced walls projectingtherefrom and forming yarn strand passages between them,

each passage having an entrance opening and an exit opening connected bya front opening through which a yarn strand may be threaded, and a airof flat spring arms within each of sait passages, the arms of each pairbeing adapted to receive a yarn' strand between them and to frictionallengage the same, one arm of each pair eing indented at one surfaceformin tion at its opposite surface constituting a barrier permitting ayarn strand to be threaded into its yarn strand passage through itsfront opening and preventlng ayarn strand from accidentally leaving thepassage through its front opening.

10. In a tuft yarn frame a body bar, a row a projecof spaced wallsprojecting therefrom and forming yarn strand passages between them, eachpassage having an entrance opening and an exit openingwconnected by. afront opening through 'which a yarn strand may be threaded," and a pairof flat spring arms within each of said passages, th e arms of each pairbeing adapted to weave a yarn strand between them and to frictionall enY gage the same, one arm of each pair eing" indented at one surfaceforming a projecti'onat' its opposite surface constituting a barrierpermitting a. yarn strand to be threaded into its yarn strand passagethrough its front opening and preventing a yarn strand from accidentallyleavin passage through its front opening, an the other armof each pairhaving an opening therein to receive the projection of its com: 1-

panion arm.

11. In a tuft yarn frame a body bar, a row of spaced walls projectingtherefrom and forming yarn strand passages between them, each passagehaving an entrance opening and an exit opening connected by a frontopening through which a yarn straml may he threaded, and a pair of flatspring arms within each of said passages, the arms of each pair beingadapted to receive :1 yarn strand between them and to frictionallyengage the same, one arm of each pair being indented at one surfaceforming :1 projection at its oppoite surface constituting :1 barrierpermitting :1 yarn strand to be. threaded into its yarn strand passagethrough its front opening and preventing a yarn strand frotnaccidentally leaving tlte passage through its front opening, and theother arm of each pair having an indentation therein to receive theprojection of its companion arm.

12. In a tuft yarn frame a body bar, a row of spaced wallsprojectingtherefrom and forming yarn strand passage; between them, each passagehaving an entrance opening and an exit opening connected by a frontopening through which a yarn strand may be threaded, and a pair of flatspring arms within each of said passages, the arms of each pair beingattached to the walls of its yarn strand passage at the inlet openingthereof and having free end portions extending toward the exit openingof the passage and adapted to receive and frictionally engage a yarnstrand passing therethrough, and the exit openings of said passagesbeing narrower than the portions thereof containing said pairs of arms,

13. In a tuft yarn frame a body bar, a row of spaced walls projectingtherefrom and forming yarn strand passages bet ween them, eaclt passagehaving an entrance opening and an exit opening connected by a frontopening through which a yarn strand may be threaded, and flat springsembracing said walls at the inlet openings of said passages andterminating in a pair of arms within each passage extending toward theexit opening thereof and adapted to receive and frictionally engage ayarn strand passing th1a-ethrough, the exit openings ofsttid passagesbeing narrower than the portions thereof containing said pairs of arms.

14. A tuft yarn frame having a series of passages to receive yarn andprovided with :1 series of rigid walls forming entrances for grippersspaced uniformly with Zilltl yarn passages, each yarn passage beingprovided with a broadside threading entrance whereby said passages canbe threaded by hand.

15. A tuft yarn frame having a multiplicity of broadside hand threadingpassages to receive yarn, each patsage being formed and constructed atone end tltereof with an entrance for a gripper, and provided with meansfor imparting friction to the yarn intermediate the said gripperentrance and the source of yarn supply.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature hereto.

EUGENE F. CLARK.

